***Don't own the Hunger Games or any part of it***
My heart turned to lead, my head pounded, my vision tunnelled, my legs became liquid. Everyone in the crowd parted, revealing Leila Hummingbird in the crowd. My unwilling legs dragged me forward, towards the stage. Mira clicked her tongue impatiently. Managing to stagger the last steps towards the stage, I slowly turned to face the crowd.
'Any volunteers?' asked Mira, but she had already dug her hand into the boys' reaping ball. She already knew that no-one would volunteer for me, and so did I. Nobody had ever volunteered in District 11 for decades.
How did this happen? If it was someone, someone else in the vast mass of children, I would have been free to live a somewhat peaceful life here in District 11. But the final obstacle to being free had blocked me.
Mira had already picked out another envelope out for the boys. Bringing out the little slip of paper so slowly that I had time to wonder Who is the poor boy who has to join me? before Mira had read out the unlucky name.
'Jonathan Brownley' called Mira pleasantly. All the boys parted, leaving a gap in the crowd. A boy of about 16 turned paper-white, and stepped up onto the stage beside me. Jonathan Brownley had dark skin and short black hair, like me, except my hair goes down to my shoulders. He looked alright, but much paler than he normally was, probably. He looked pretty calm for someone who just got picked to go into the Hunger Games, which I probably hadn't.
Mira then announced the end of the reaping, and Jonathan and I were pushed into separate rooms by the Peacekeepers, so we could say goodbye to whoever visited us. The first to visit me was my dad and my brother.
'Leil!' It was my dad calling out to me. My brother rushed at me and hugged me. I held back tears, remembering that this was probably the last time I'd ever see them. 'Leil, you'll be alright, okay? Just remember that we're so proud of you, and so is your mother. You can win this. Remember everything you've learnt working in the orchards' my dad said. 'Okay' was the only thing I could make myself say. My throat was too dry to say anything, as the Peacekeepers shepherded my family out. That was the last I'll probably ever see of them. I have to remember their appearance. My dad: average height; a warm smile; dark skin, to match me and my brother's; black hair, also like me; and hazel eyes. My brother: dark skin, very dark brown hair that it almost looks black, but when he walks into the light you can clearly see that his hair is brown; eyes that look multi-coloured, almost - not quite brown, or hazel, or anything else, it's more like all colours. I fix that firmly in my mind.
Olivia came to see me next. It was evident that she had been crying; her light brown eyes were red and puffy. Her also light brown hair was quite long, almost reaching her waist, but not quite. When she entered the room, Olivia wailed 'Oh, Leil! I don't want you to go into the Hunger Games!'. 'Hey, Liv, it's alright, I'll be fine.' I answered, trying to keep my voice calm, but not quite working. 'Okay, but I did bring you this' said Olivia. Opening her hand, I saw a delicate silver chain, with a small wooden star on it. 'I was thinking that you could take it into the Hunger Games, because you're allowed to bring in one thing from home.' Olivia explained. Speechless with gratitude, I took the bracelet from Olivia and slipped it on my left wrist. The chain glittered, the small wood star hanging off it. 'Do you like it?' asked Olivia. I looked up at her. 'Liv, this is amazing' I say. Suddenly the Peacekeepers barged in. 'Time's up' one of them grunted. 'No' pleaded Olivia. 'A few more minutes.' Shaking their heads, they surged forward and seized both of her arms. 'Wait! No! No, Leil!' cried Olivia, her hair a mess, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes as she was dragged out the door, leaving me feeling more depressed than ever.
Jonathan and I were shoved into the train that would take us to the Capitol. I was desperate to see everyone I loved one last time, but I knew we weren't allowed to. As soon as we boarded, the train took off. I'd never been on a train before, like most people in District 11, and quickly found that I didn't feel all that good on the train. I skipped dinner because of my train-sickness, which wasn't a problem, as I usually didn't have dinner.
I sat on the floor of the room I was going to be sleeping in, despite a chair and a bed about 5 steps away. This was one of the most fanciest rooms I've ever been in. Of course, it's from the Capitol. Everything nice is. My thoughts drift, as I think about home. I've barely left, but I'm already homesick.
About an hour after I wake up the next day, we're there. Everything is blurry and fuzzy - I don't remember anything. After getting off the train, and then arriving at the place where all the tributes stay, and then eating something foreign and exotic to me, that was the best thing I've ever eaten, I meet my mentor properly. They were on the train from District 11 to here with me, but I spent nearly the whole time shut in my room. In the rare moment in which I escape my sanctuary, I stay silent and look down the entire time.
'Hi, Leila. Name's Kendall. I'm your mentor' a man says to me, holding out a hand. I shake it, looking at him. Kendall is short for a grown man, as he is just taller than me, despite our age difference of about 15 years. Kendall has short, spiky brown hair, and a short beard. Everything about Kendall is just short. I can't imagine how he won his Hunger Games. Maybe he hid away?
After we shake hands, I blurt 'How did you win the Games?'. Kendall doesn't look much of a fighter to me, although how would I know? I know about nothing in fighting, which is bad for me, since for once, I'm doing the fighting against 23 other kids, rather than watching a child on screen fighting.
'I mostly just set up traps, then lit fires to trick tributes into rushing to the fire, expecting to kill a idiotic tribute. By the way, don't light fires. Other tributes see the smoke, then go running to kill you. Anyway, once I lit the fire, the others charged in, and fell right into my little traps and died' explained Kendall. 'I had a natural talent for setting up traps, and lighting fires without too many resources. Use your talents to your advantage, my mentor said to me. And that's what I'm saying to you.'
Kendall goes on, and then Jonathan comes out and starts to listen intently, probably because he wants the best chance possible to win. I tune out, thinking about my dad. He said to me that I have a 'short attention span', which is true, because right now I'm not listening to a word of what Kendall's explaining.
Eventually I make some excuse, quickly gobble down some absolutely delicious food, then head off to bed. Training starts tomorrow. I need a good night's rest, because I need to be prepared.